SpaceX is reportedly in talks with telecommunications company Vodafone to expand Starlink coverage across the United Kingdom, according to The Telegraph newspaper. A partnership with Vodafone will enable SpaceX’s Starlink network to gain access to the spectrum in the U.K. SpaceX officials have not confirmed a potential collaboration.
“Regarding satellite spectrum, we can confirm we are in talks with multiple operators. We’re close to striking a deal,” a Vodafone spokesperson told reporters, “We are open to approaches from satellite providers who may wish to lease the spectrum.” Vodafone is also welcoming companies to plug their satellite ground stations into its data center’s fibre-optic network.
SpaceX already operates a broadband satellite constellation of approximately 1,797 satellites in Low Earth Orbit. The satellites receive data from Starlink Gateway ground stations which are connected to data centers on Earth. Over the course of the next seven years, SpaceX plans to launch at least 20,000 internet-beaming satellites to blanket the world with high-speed internet. Long-term, SpaceX will not need to build many terrestrial ground stations because all future Starlink satellites deployed will feature inter-satellite communication laser links that will enable satellites to transfer data to one another without the need to connect directly to a ground station.
SpaceX is currently providing Starlink Beta internet service to rural regions in the United Kingdom to customers who pre-ordered the service, includes portions of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Company officials state that the equipment to connect to the Starlink network is the same price worldwide $499 USD for the satellite dish antenna with a $99 USD per month service fee. Visit Starlink.com for more information.
Featured Image Source: NASA
About the Author
Evelyn Janeidy Arevalo
Evelyn J. Arevalo joined Tesmanian in 2019 to cover news as a Space Journalist and SpaceX Starbase Texas Correspondent. Evelyn is specialized in rocketry and space exploration. The main topics she covers are SpaceX and NASA.
